EDMONTON - Continuing a relationship that began in the 1940’s, the University of Alberta Golden Bears’ football program and the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club are once again working together towards a golden football future for the province of Alberta.

The Eskimos, who received their iconic green and gold colour scheme from the Golden Bears in the 1940s when the U of A program was dormant due to a lack of teams in the west, contributed $50,000 from their game day 50/50 program to University of Alberta football in 2012, and hope to match that total again this year through game day 50/50 sales during Eskimo home games. All monies received by the Golden Bears from the Eskimos 50/50 program will be dedicated towards the Edmonton Eskimos Golden Bear Scholarship, targeted at keeping the best Northern Alberta football players in Edmonton.

The 50/50 program is part of the Eskimos’ continued support of amateur football in Northern Alberta. Last season’s average take-home winnings from Edmonton Eskimos 50/50 tickets were over $78,000 and three times surpassed the $100,000 mark.

The Golden Bears demonstrated the kind of impact that the Eskimos contribution and commitment can have by introducing six recruits from the Northern Alberta region as the program gets set for their 2013 Spring Camp at Foote Field. Joining the program are running back Ed Ilnicki, receivers Clinton Richardson and Tak Landry, offensive linemen Matt Clarke and Sam Rybiak, and defensive lineman Zak Palek. Ilnicki, Richardson, and Palek all come from the explosive Spruce Grove Panthers program that claimed the provincial silver medal last season; both Landry and Rybiak played for the provincial championship Harry Ainlay Titans while the 6’6” and 260-lb Clarke comes from the St. Albert High School Skyhawks.

The Golden Bears and Eskimos share some overlap in other areas beyond the colour scheme. The current Eskimos’ roster features three former Golden Bears’ offensive linemen in Simeon Rottier, who was the first overall pick in the 2009 CFL draft, Gord Hinse, and Dale Stevenson. While over at Foote Field, the Bears’ boast three-time Grey Cup champion and Eskimo Wall of Honour member Chris Morris as Head Coach and his staff features former Eskimos’, and Grey Cup champions, Tim Prinsen (offensive line coach), Rick Walters (offensive coordinator), and Shannon Garrett (defensive backs coach).
The Eskimos begin the 2013 CFL regular season on June 29 when they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium, while the Golden Bears begin their first season under Morris on August 30 on the road in Manitoba.

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